Explosions heard near an apartment building in suburbs of Toulouse where
police believe the suspected in seven shootings, Mohammed Merah, is holed up.

The Interior Ministery said were intended to step up pressure on the suspect and there has not been an assault to get him out of his apartment.

"They were moves to intimidate the gunman who seems to have changed his mind and does not want to surrender," ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet. "There is no assault."

Police have been trying to get 24-year-old Mohamed Merahto turn himself over after he fired through the door at them while they tried to storm his apartment in the suburbs of Toulouse in the early hours of Wednesday morning.